York Boat Captain leads the way into history

(Sources: York Boat Captain – 18 Life-changing Days on the Peace River, Teresa Griffith; Ponderings; Lure of the Peace River Country, David Leonard)

The title of Teresa Griffith’s book York Boat Captain – 18 Life-changing Days on the Peace River is a little misleading. It fails to suggest the challenge of getting the show on the road, or in this case the boat into the water, June 2011. Captain Griffith’s description of the weeks of preparatory work provides the reader with a strong sense that patience, indeed, is a virtue and needed to be exercised over a long period of time to see a project through, successfully.

Why a York boat? Why on the Peace River? Why the boat’s first woman captain? The answers seem simple enough. The York boat and its place in the history of the fur trade in Canada and on the Peace River are significant.

The York boat made it on the fur trade scene for a simple combination of reasons – the Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC), the main purveyor of furs and goods, did not, according to some sources, have skilled canoemen; birch trees did not grow at York Factory; and the York boat carried greater loads at a lower cost than the larger canoe and took the regular wear and tear better. All in all, the York boat provided a much more useful life than the canoe. This it did for more than a century as the main means of transportation between inland trading posts and York Factory, at the mouth of the Hayes River on Hudson Bay for which it is named.

For Fort Dunvegan and the York boat, the 1870s were pivotal. The HBC needed to reduce costs. Up until then, for decades, York boats supplied Peace River posts over traditional waterways by way of Fort Chipewyan. But, alas more efficient and effective means prevailed. As outstanding as the York boat was for the HBC’s purpose, by the 1880s, successors waited in the wings – sternwheel steamers, Red River carts, and railways – business was business.

Now back to the here and now. The 21st century York boat story begins with the “hatching” of the idea from Gary Christopherson’s research on York boats in the Peace region. He did this as “part of his work as Research and Field Guide Co-ordinator for Geo-Tourism” back in the spring/summer of 2010 – a year before the eventual launching of the boat. His idea was to have a scale replica of the boat, which he could take on a historical re-enactment of a “trade mission” on the Peace River between Fort Dunvegan and Fort Vermilion – two historically-significant trade sites.

At this time, Teresa was working, under contract to GeoTourism Canada, on a river guide of the Peace River. Her practical research included paddling 800 kilometres (500 miles) of the mighty river. “By the end of summer, I would have canoed or kayaked the whole river from Hudson’s Hope, B. C. to Fort Vermilion, Alberta, … making me very knowledgeable of the river.”

Although she was “intrigued” by the York boat idea, it was not uppermost in her mind as she completed her project. Nevertheless, in the fall, she inquired about the progress of the York boat idea. It was stalled. GeoTourism’s interest remained, but staff, expertise and time did not permit more involvement. A couple of months went by as Teresa mused about submitting a York boat proposal. Finally, in November 2010, she sent her proposal to GeoTourism Canada by which she would “work on finding a builder, a crew and then manage the logistics for the trip between the two forts as a demonstration trip and huge – 18 days long! – publicity stunt.”

Long story short, she became the project manager with more responsibilities than she had bargained. With only four months until boat launch, there was much to do to commence the building. Firstly, a reputable York boat builder had to be found – one who didn’t have other big projects on the go, who could assure delivery in a scrunched timeframe for a reasonable price. North Woods Canoe Company of Cochrane, Alberta, fit the bill with an employee familiar with the building of York boats a bonus. By the time the company was chosen, there were only 13 weeks “to build the boat from not much more than an idea to a completed craft”. Once completed, the intention was to conduct a shakedown cruise to iron out any kinks in the boat and crew before setting out on the historic journey. Oh, yes, the crew – Teresa had to find six people to propel the boat when ready, while the seventh, Captain Griffith, was the sweep – person at the stern who directed the crew and boat.

There were delays and snags along the way to completion that would have tried the patience of the most patient. It truly was a test of character.

This scribe found the documentation of the project manager in getting everything on track on so many levels; using her own elbow grease to carve the 40 lb. (18 kg) oars and as a carpenter’s helper, to further the cause was fascinating – truly compelling and impressive. Then, to see the results of her labours with the boat in the water and the crew, outfitted in appropriate attire, much of which was sewn by a La Crete seamstress, melding into skilled York boat oarsmen and women – a character test of the highest water.

From the launch at Fort Dunvegan and stops along the way, including Peace River, to arrival at the Fort Vermilion destination, captain and crew have interesting, some spellbinding, stories to tell. During your journey with Captain Griffith, you will discover the reason for a couple of alternative monikers, such as Captain Overboard and Captain Underpants; read Jack Twell’s journals and tweets; find out about the guys in a beer-laden golf cart, the missing axe, muddy banks, shelter, cooking, sleeping and eating. Oh yes, rowing. Reading the book is an opportunity to meet the crew and each one’s idiosyncrasies, as well as each crewmember’s penchant for working as long as it took to get the job done. The result – the story of the truest of co-operative efforts and perseverance.

The captain provides a list of the York boat’s dimensions, and includes those of the oars and sail, mast and rudder. As well, she has an illustration of the boat and maps depicting the boat crew’s travels. But, it’s the measure of the people on board, literally and figuratively, you will meet, who worked hard and effectively to make the voyage happen and to make it happen successfully.

This book is truly an enthralling, captivating, informative and many times funny, darn good read – well worth your time, whether a river or boat lover.

In the York Boat Captain preface, Captain Griffith apologizes to scientists, historians and marine captains who read the book. To the scientists for her “loose use of words and measurement”; to historians for glossing over “many interesting subjects” in order to focus on the expedition, which is the purpose of the book; and to marine captains for whom a great deal of training, time and experience are required for certification. “However, on such a small, primarily human-powered craft, I believe I can use the title. In any case, on the expedition, I was functioning as the captain.”

You will have an opportunity to meet Captain (Overboard, Underpants) Griffith and hear her first-hand account of her venture as the first female York boat captain on the Peace River and the first York boat captain to ply the Peace River for at least 80 years, at the Peace River Museum, Archives and Mackenzie Centre, Thursday, August 15, 7:30 p.m. Captain Griffith will autograph her book York Boat Captain, 18 Life-changing Days on the Peace River. It will be for sale and may be purchased with cash or cheque.